Car-coupling.



No. 771,822. 4 PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

. G. U. GREELEY.

OAR COUPLING.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 11, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR 3, (Adana M I ATT o rjfit af No. 771,822. PATENTED 001111, 1904 I 0. 11.. GREELEY.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.11, 1903. N0 MODEL.

2 BHEETB-SHEET 2',

UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

CHARLES U. GREELEY, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

CAR-COUPLI NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,822, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed November 11, 1903. Serial No. 180,710. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

. ments in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

11y invention relates to an improvement in couplers of the usual modified J anney style,

known as the Master Car-Builders" type.

It relates particularly to that class of coup-.

lers in which the parts are manipulated from the side or end of the car, preferably from the side of freight-cars and from the end platform of passenger-cars.

The objects of the invention are several in number, among which may be mentioned as one the provision of a coupler in which the draw-head may be of maximum strength and not weakened and liable to breakage under strain, such as might be due to coring or removal of material to allow for the adaptation internally to the draw-head of numerous features of amore or less complicated apparatus.

Another object is to provide a simple and effective coupling apparatus in which there is less likelihood of breakage of the knuckle and locking-pin than in the usual construction of couplers by reason of the fact of a provision which insures a smooth and easy lifting of the locking-pin both under the action of the knuckle and under the positive action of the operator.

The further object is to provide a construction of coupling or draw-head in which a solid bearing is provided for the locking-pin and by which I am enabled to employ a comparatively light locking-pin, which acts as a key between its supporting-wall and the knucklearm, and to dispense with the necessity of providing a securing device for the locking-pin.

A further and important object is to provide a novel mechanism for operating the locking-pin from the side or end of the car without the necessity of the operator going between the cars and aconstruction in which g a" I at the same time after the locking-pin has been raised sufficiently to release the knuckle a further movement of the locking-pin-operating lever will fore out or open the knuckle fully to the set position.

The invention, in brief, therefore may be said to consist in a mechanism for raising the lockingpin and opening the knuckle, said mechanism comprising a lever adapted to raise the locking-pin and a connection between the lever and the knuckle to throw open the knuckle in the further movement of the lever after the locking-pin has been raised.

Secondly, the invention consists in a mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, said mechanism comprising a lever adapted to raise the locking-pin and a connection between the lever and the knucklejoint pin, the knuckle being splined or keyed to the said pin oscillating with the pin, said connection between the lever and knucklejoint pin being so arranged as to be operated by a further movement of the lever after its initial movement to raise the locking-pin, so that said further movement opens the knuckle.

Thirdly, the invention consists in a mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, said mechanism comprising a lever adapted to raise the locking-pin and a connection between the lever and the knucklejoint pin, the knuckle being splined or keyed to the said pin and oscillating with the pin, said connection between the lever and knucklejoint pin being so arranged as to be operated by a further movement in the same direction of the lever after its initial movement to raise the locking-pin, so that said further movement opens the knuckle.

The invention also consists in so constructing an inner wall of the draw-head as to form a support throughout the length of the locking-pin, thereby accomplishing the double purpose of strengthening the pin and obviating the possibility of said pin being raised from the locked position by the 1 friction of the inner or locking arm of the knuckle.

Finally, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of the lever and mechanism for causing the same to operate the locking-pin and knuckle, in the means for supporting and swinging the knuckle, in the means for guiding the locking-pin, in the means provided for avoiding friction between the locking-pin and the edges of the aperture through which it rises, and of avoiding thereby the excessive blow or impact ordinarily necessary to efiect a coupling, and in various other features which will be hereinafter described,and referred to in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view taken on the section-line 1 1 of Fig. 3, illustrating a couplinghead embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line y of Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail front and side elevations, respectively, of the locking-pin; and Figs. 4 and 4 are sections, respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a car end, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the knuckle-joint pin. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the knuckle, and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a modification of the lever mechanism.

In Fig. 1 the figure shows a view of the lower part of thedraw-head, properly speaking, cut away, or a section of it, just above the lower floor of the draw-head. In explanation, the draw-head itself consists of two horizontal planes C D, which project forward in continuation of the upper and lower walls of the shank of the coupler. In this figure the wall marked 4is avertical partition or wall which separates the hollow space formed by the coring of the shank from the chamber formed by the mold in casting, which cham berreceives the locking-pin itself and the inner or locking arm 6 of the knuckle in its passage from the open to the locked position. The wall 4 is therefore simply a vertical partition which shuts off that chamber from all of the rest of the coupler. It is so formed that its outward wall F in contact with the surface of the pin 3 is slightly at an angle longitudinally with either vertical wall of the shank, which arrangement is for the purpose of giving draft in molding. The Wall 4 is of the same thickness as the vertical walls of the shank, the outer Vertical wall G of the draw-head at the left forming the connection exteriorly between the top and the bottom horizontal planes, and all of these three walls are of the same thickness. The face-wall, which forms the jaw of the mold, is made somewhat heavier, because that receives the impact. This wall A, which is a continuation forward of the vertical wall at the right of the shank, also forms the outer partition connecting the upper and lower planes of the drawhead and connects with the before-mentioned wall 4 at a junction with or just at the angle of projection of the guard-arm B, and the two continue to form the face of the guard-arm B and are continued upward and downward to form the completion of the face of said guard-arm. The provision of the wall 4 gives a reduction in expense in the casting by eliminatmg the need of coring and making the core of the shank a separate thing and the only interior coring, and in addition it forms a solid support throughout the length of the lockingpin, which in its frictional area is very many times the area of the surface of the pin in contact with the surface of the locking-arm, so that the vertical slipping or oscillation due to looseness of the knuckle-joint occurs wholly between the surfaces of the locking-arm and the locking-pin and cannot possibly change or affect the position of the pin itself, and thereby obviates the necessity of any special device for locking the pin in place. It will be seen that this makes an absolutely solid c(l uplinghead and makes breakage impossib e.

The locking-pin is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and is reduced at its lower part 3, so as to form an inclined shoulder-12, and at its upper end has the eye 13. This locking-pin, the upper portion of which is adapted to loosely fit the vertical opening in the top wall of the coupling-head, is, as stated, reduced at its lower end to form the inclined shoulder referred to, which reduced portion fits a reduced opening in the lower wall of the coup ling-head, and said reduced portion at the rounded corner 1 thereof bears against an antifriction-roller 5 on the pin 10, supported in flanges 9 and 9, cast on the lower face of the coupling-head, which roller, with its supports, may by such arrangement obviously be made of abundant size both for strength and wearing quality.

By the provision of the openings to receive loosely the upper and lower parts of the locking-pin and the antifriction-roller, together with the construction above referred to of the draw-head, and the wall 4 particularly, it will be seen that a practically solid bearing for the locking-pin is provided, and, furthermore, its action up and down is rendered easy and without strain because of the use of the antifriction-roller. In other words, when the inclined end 6-or locking-arm of the knuckle engages the inclined shoulder 12 of the .pin there will be no such bind of the locking-pin as would tend to break the same, but a wedging action of the locking end of the knuckle against the inclined shoulder 12, thus raising the same until the locking-arm of the knuckle slips by and then allowing the locking-pin to drop and hold the parts in locked position, such raising of the locking-pin being rendered smooth and without jar by the pin being pressed against the large rolling-surface of the roller 5.

The knuckle 7 is of substantially the usual construction, having the opening 23 to receive the knuckle-joint pin and having the lockingshank 6. The knuckle-joint pin 22 is provided at its lower portion with a groove 24, adapted to fit a shoulder 25 on the interior of the opening or hole 23 of the knuckle, and it will be seen, therefore, that when the knucklejoint pin is oscillated the knuckle will also be oscillated.

When the action of the coupler of the knuckle is set to open position, as shown, the action of the corresponding parts on the opposite car will force the locking-shank of the knuckle against the inclined shoulder 12 on the locking-pin, raise the same until the locking-shank 6 passes beyond the pin into the chamber above referred to, and the lockingpin will drop and the parts will then be rigidly secured in position.

As a further and special improvement in a coupler of this character I have provided the novel mechanism for operating the lockingpin and knuckle from the side or end of the car without necessity of the operator going between the cars.

As shown in Fig. 6, 15 represents a lever having a suitable handle 26, said lever having a reciprocating movement in a guiding-lug 27 on the car, said lever passing through the eye 13 of the locking-pin 3. At its inner end this lever is bent upwardly to form an inclined portion 16, the outer end of which bears on the vertical projection 14: on the draw-head. It will be seen that in the inward reciprocation of the lever 15 the inclined portion 16 will ride upon the projection 14 and elevate the locking-pin, drawing it out of engagement with the locking-shank 6 of the knuckle. I do not wish to be limited to this construction, as other means may be devised for causing the lever to ride vertically as it is reciprocated.

In order to provide for the setting of the knuckle to open position when the lever or rod 15 is reciprocated to raise the locking-pin, I have provided the knuckle-joint pin with a crank-arm 20, having an opening 21, in which is pivotally set a rod 18, having on its outer end a ring 19, embracing the lever 15. On this lever 15 is formed a projection or ring 17 which, after a certain amount of inward reciprocation of the lever 15 sufficient to raise the pin 3 from engagement with the lockingshank of the knuckle has been accomplished, will engage the ring or projection 19 and swinging arm 20, the knuckle-joint pin, and therefore the knuckle, outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

By withdrawal of the lever 15 then to normal position the locking-pin will be dropped, but the knuckle will be left in set position until positively forced into locking position again. This arrangement, consisting, as stated, of a support for the unlocking-lever at its outer end on the car, but at its inner end in direct connection with the locking mechanism, has the additional advantage that it removes one great difiiculty which has been found in practice to be due to the employment of a lever supported at both its ends upon the car and connecting with the locking mechanism by means of a chain, which latter arrangement has been found to result in the unlocking of the mechanism by reason of the slack of the coupler increasing with use and wear to such extent that the chain connection spoken of becomes too short, so that the locking-pin or other locking device is withdrawn from place when an extra strain pulls the coupler out to the extreme position.

It is evident that my arrangement, having only one support for the lever upon the car, does away entirely with the danger of accidental unlocking in such manner.

It will thus'be seen that there is a positivelyoperating connection between the lever 15 and the knuckle-joint pin for forcing the knuckle to said position, thus doing away with complicated arrangements heretofore proposed for this purpose, most of which embody additional operating-shafts or toothed sectors for engaging and operating the knuckle.

In Fig. 9 is shown another mechanism for operating the locking-pin. Instead of the lever 15 having the inclined end or bend 16 riding up on the projection 14 the said lever is provided with a right-angled projection, as shown at 16, and by turning the lever 15 this projection engages the top wall of the coupling-head and raises the coupling-pin, and then a sliding movement of the lever 15 will transmit motion to the knuckle-joint pin through the connections 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, above referred to.

I am aware that I am not the first to provide a lever for operating the locking-pin in which a turning movement of said lever first raises the locking-pin and then a reciprocatory movement thereof through intermediate connections throws out the knuckle, but I believe I am the first to provide an operating-lever for the locking-pin which in a single reciprocatory movement initially raises the locking-pin and then operates, by means of a direct and positive connection with the knuckle itself, to force the latter to the open position.

I believe also that I am the first to provide the lever with means adapted to engage a projecting part on the coupling-head which in the reciprocatory movement of the lever will cause the end thereof to ride on the projection and raise the locking-pin and the final movement of the lever will transmit motion to the knuckle.

I believe also that I am the first to provide a direct connection between the lever and the knuckle-joint pin for operating the knucklejoint.

I believe also that I am the first to provide an efiectual means of removing the friction between the locking-pin and the supporting parts at the moment of impact and during its rise in the form of a large roller which is always in contact with the pin near the point of pressure (in the act of locking) and the supports of which form an integral part of the lower exterior surface of the draw-head.

Y Furthermore, I believe the construction of draw-head as above set forth, in combination with the arrangement of the various parts as described, is also new.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin and knuckle, an antifriction-roller engaging the pin and supported in flanges on the lower face ofthe coupling-head, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, with connections between the lever and the knuckle to throw open the latter in the further movement of the lever, after the locking-pin has been raised; substantially as described.

2. Ina car-coupling, having a locking'pin and knuckle, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising asingle reciprocating lever engaging the up per end of the locking-pin and adapted in its reciprocation to first raise the same, and in its further movement in the same direction to operate the knuckle to open the same; substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin and knuckle, and a knuckle-joint pin to which the knuckle is secured, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a single lever engaging the lockingpin and also connected with the knuckle-joint pin whereby in its operation it will first raise the locking-pin and in its further movement in the same direction will swing the knucklejoint pin to open the knuckle, substantially as described.

4.. In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, and a knuckle, mechanism for raising the locking-p'n and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, a connection between the lever and the knuckle-joint pin, the knuckle being splined or keyed to the pin; substantially as described.

In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, and a knuckle, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, a connection between the lever and the knuckle-joint pin, the knuckle being splined or keyed to the pin, said connection between the lever and knuckle-joint pin being so arranged as to be operated by a further movement of the lever, after its initial movement to raise the locking-pin, so that said further movement opens the knuckle; substantially as described.

6. In a car-coupling having a locking-pin and a knuckle, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation, to raise the locking-pin, and a connection between the lever and the knuckle-joint pin, the knuckle being splined or keyed to the said pin, said connection between the lever and knuckle-joint pin, being so arranged as to be operated by a further movement in the same direction, of the lever, after its initial movement to raise the locking-pin, so that said further movement opens the knuckle; substantially as described.

7 In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin, comprising a reciprocating lever engaging the pin, and a member on the coupling head adapted in the reciprocation of the lever to engage the same and manipulate it to raise the locking-pin; substantially as described.

8. In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin, comprising a reciprocating lever engaging the pin, and having its inner end formed to engage and ride upon a projection on the couplinghead, in the reciprocation of said lever; substantially as described.

9. In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin, comprising a reciprocating lever engaging the pin, and having its inner end bent upwardly at an angle, and a projection on the coupling-head, engaging the upwardly-bent end of the lever, to raise the same and the pin as the lever reciprocates; substantially as described.

10. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin, comprising a reciprocating lever embraced by an opening in the upper portion of the pin, and having its inner end bent upwardly at an angle, and a projection on the coupling-head engaging the upwardly-bent end of the lever, to raise the same and the pin as the lever reciprocates; substantially as described.

11. In a car-coupling having a locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin, comprising a reciprocating lever engaging the pin, and a member on the coupling-head, adapted in the reciprocation of the lever to engage the same, and manipulate it to raise the locking-pin, a knuckle and connection between the lever and the knuckle arranged to be brought into operation after the locking-pin has been raised, to open theknuckle; substantially as described.

12. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin and a knuckle-joint pin and knuckle splined or keyed to said knuckle-joint pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, with connections between the lever and the knuckle to throw open the latter in the further movement of the lever, after the locking-pin has been raised, said connections comprising an arm in operative torsional engagement with the knuckle-joint pin, at one end, and at its opposite end having a sliding engagement with the lever, and a projection on the lever adapted in its reciprocation to be brought into engagement with the arm; substantially as described.

13. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin and a knuckle-joint pin and knuckle splined or keyed to said knuckle-joint pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, with connections between thelever and the knuckle to throw open the latter in the further movement of the lever, after the locking-pin has been raised, said connections comprising an arm in operative torsional engagement with the knuckle-joint pin, at one end, and at its opposite end embracing the lever, and a projection on the lever adapted in its reciprocation to be brought into engagement with the arm; substantially as described.

14. In a car-coupling, having a locking-pin and knuckle, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, comprising a lever adapted in its operation to raise the locking-pin, with connections between the lever and the knuckle to throw open the latter in the further movement of the lever, after the locking-pin has been raised, said connections comprising an arm at one end engaging a projection on the knuckle-joint pin, and at its opposite end having a sliding engagement with the lever, and a projection on the lever adapted in its reciprocation to be brought into engagement with the arm; substantially as described.

15. In a car-coupling, the combination with the coupling-head, the locking-pin, and an antifriction-roller supported on the lower face of the coupling-head and in engagement with the lower portion of said locking-pin; substantially as described.

16. In a car-coupling, the combination with the coupling-head, a locking-pin having a reduced lower portion with a rounded corner, and an antifriction-roller supported in flanges on the lower face of the coupling-head; substantially as described.

17 In a car-coupling, of the type described, a draw-head having upper and lower walls with openings therethrough for the passage of the locking-pin and having a vertical wall or partition as 4, said wall being a continuation formed of one vertical wall of the shank and so placed that a portion of its surface in contact with the locking-pin is continuous or flush with the contiguous edges of said openings in the top and bottom walls, substantially as described.

18. In a car-coupling of the type described, a draw-head having upper and lower walls,with openings therethrough for the passage of the locking-pin, and having a vertical wall or partition as 4:, forming a chamber for the locking-pin, and the locking-arm of the knuckle, the portion of said Wall in contact with the surface of the pin being at an angle longitudinally with either vertical wall of the shank, and being connected with the face-wall at the angle of projection of the guard-arm; substantially as described.

19. In a car-coupling of the type described, a draw-head having upper and lower walls,and having a vertical wall or partition as 4:, forming a chamber for the looking-pin and the locking-arm of the knuckle, the upper and lower walls being formed with openings to receive the locking-pin, and an antifriction-roller supported on the lower face of the couplinghead and in engagement with the lower portion of the said locking-pin; substantially as described.

20. In a car-coupling, of the type described, a draw-head, having upper and lower walls and having a vertical wall or partition as l, forming a chamber for the locking-pin and the lockin -arm of the knuckle, and an antifriction-roller supported on the lower face of the coupling-head and in engagement with the lower portion of the said locking-pin, mechanism for raising the locking-pin and opening the knuckle, said mechanism comprising a lever engaging the locking-pin and adapted in its operation to raise the same and being connected with the knuckle whereby in its further movement after the initial movement to raise the locking-pin it will operate the knuckle to open the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES U. GREELEY. Witnesses:

A. M. PARKINS, ALBERT POPKINS. 

